Bobby Robson still believes the job of managing England should go to an Englishman.

But he confessed: "It's not easy for the FA. Put yourself in their shoes.

"They have to get the right man and if the right Englishman is not around they might have to go abroad."

The Newcastle boss has kept out of the debate since his club rejected FA overtures for him to take over England on a caretaker basis a week ago.

Yesterday Robson confirmed: "I have just put it aside. The board made a decision and there is no point in fighting that. I do honour contracts and I have done what is right.

"The FA need a top man and obviously I would much rather it was an Englishman. Brazil and Argentina don't look outside when they appoint a national coach and until now neither do we.

"But the most important thing is to get the proper candidate. It's not a job for Uncle Tom Cobleigh or for every name that has been bandied around in public.

"It's the flagship of our game and it needs experience, a good tactical guy who knows how to pick football teams and who measures up to the pressures of the job in all its aspects."

Robson has always maintained that Terry Venables would be the best man for the job but he refused to be drawn on individuals yesterday. Robson predicts a transfer explosion once a decision has been taken by the European Commission on the trade of players.

The Newcastle boss said: "I think there will quite a few deals when this is all sorted out. Not many clubs are spending much money at the minute and we are the same."

Robson, who is waiting to buy a defender, added: "We are all holding fire to see what the outcome will be. I'll be glad when the situation is clear because at the moment we are skating on thin ice."

l The body of football was 'decapitated' in Switzerlandyesterday as the row over soccer's transfer system erupted into open warfare.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter and PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor exchanged angry words at a press conference which had been called to show unanimity between all parties ahead of an historic meeting with the European Commission in Brussels on Tuesday.

Taylor, chairman of European players' union FIFPro, had refused to attend the final plenary session of the committee set up to address the EC's legal concerns at the present transfer arrangements because he felt the concerns of his members were not being addressed.